Strike the First Blow

by Tai Baiyang

  However, what happened later, had stunned Zhang Mu, who was in the progress of advancement.

  Chapter 139: New Ability

  It was not what Zhang Mu had expected. He thought that the Obsidian Beetle would make use of its agility to dodge yet, it had no tendency to slow down its speed. In just five seconds, every mutated animal that it came across, were either cut into two pieces by its steel-like wings or torn into pieces by its claw.

  Occasionally, there were some fishes slipped through the net. Rushing into the 50 meters range from Zhang Mu, their lives were drained by the Bloodvine Lotus. Since it could only observe the Obsidian Beetle kill the mutated animals, it appeared to get a little impatient.

  Nevertheless, its main body was grown inside Zhang Mu’s arm and could not extend much. It could only observe the Obsidian Beetle killed as many as it desired while enjoying different flavors of the mutated animals' meat and their beast core.

  When Zhang Mu saw this, his anxious heart was finally eased. Looked like he had underestimated the damage that the Obsidian Beetle could cause after its advancement. Besides the previous state, when it was handling the Nightmare Worm, it was still powerful nonetheless.

  At this moment, Zhang Mu had already eaten ten soul crystals quietly. An inexplicable pulsation arose from his heart suddenly.

  Finally, was it going to happen? The chance to the second-rank advancement!

  He had been tempered by the soul crystals for a long time, causing him to feel a little numb towards them. But now the chance to advance was here. He gathered himself together and felt the changes in his body.

  Just a moment ago, he felt that the cells in his body were hungry for energy. From the inside out, it wanted to draw out energy from the air and greedily absorbed them.

  Zhang Mu knew that this was the signs that the ability had reached bottleneck and was a natural reaction of the body when it was going to advance. A person’s awakening ability was like water, and his body was the vessel. It would explode when the liquid had filled to the brim, yet the container did not increase its capacity.

  That was also why advancing through the awakening ability was much more powerful than a normal evolver since the capacity required to progress was far more prominent.

  Therefore, advancement was an extremely grave matter, but Zhang Mu was confident. The energy in the air was naturally scarce and was far from enough to advance from the first rank to the second rank.

  Inside his merchant ring, there were more than ten thousands of the first-ranked crystals!

  Under normal circumstances, for a first rank to advance straightaway, it only required about one thousands crystals to succeed. Meanwhile, when using the awakening ability to progress to the second-rank demanded at least three thousand crystals, with no upper limit.

  Because the energy from the crystals required for every ability was different, it did not necessarily mean that the more crystals required, the more powerful it was. Nevertheless, it was always good to prepare more to take precaution beforehand.

  He stuffed the remaining soul crystals on the ground back into the merchant ring. This time he would not be able to use them, but he could give it to Yuan Rui after his advancement. Even though the amount left was not enough for Yuan Rui to get another new ability, but it was enough to make up for the psychological loss drained by the Nightmare Worms.

  Meanwhile, Zhang Mu also felt that remaining soul crystals would be enough to enhance her defense against the psychic attack until she would be able to defy the power of the Nightmare Worm, which was constructing dreams.

  After putting away the soul crystals, Zhang Mu counted 10,000 crystals and took it out of his merchant ring in an orderly manner right away, immersing himself in the sea of crystals. Even the location of the Bloodvine Lotus was squeezed out of the way by the crystals.

  The moment Zhang Mu summoned the crystals out, his body could sense the origin of the energy. Like a whale gulping down water, it drained the energy from the crystals frantically.

  The pile of crystals nearest to Zhang Mu were turned to dust in an instant. After that, there would be new crystals attached to Zhang Mu before it was drained too.

  Currently, each of his meridians was full and filled with the most primitive energy. Now, his psychic ability was not wavering anymore as the crystals were digested by his hungry body. Zhang Mu could only wait until his body was full.

  In a blink of an eye, the three thousand crystals that was required by the awakening ability was absorbed by Zhang Mu. Furthermore, he could sense that it was far from enough as the sea of crystals around him were shrinking at speed visible to the naked eye.

  His entire being was swelled up and filled with energy, yet it did not belong to him.

  As time went by, Zhang Mu could felt that he was reaching the limit. He opened his eye and looked around his surrounding. He found that everything around him was turned into white dust. Only about one thousand of perfectly good crystals were laying quietly within the white dust.

  Who would have thought that he had used about 9,000 crystals in the process of advancing from the first rank to the second rank? Zhang Mu felt heartache, but this also demonstrated the overbearing part of using the awakening ability to progress.

  Zhang Mu closed his eye again. Now it was the time for the last moment of impact to arrive.

  Now he had psychic power accumulating in his brain area while the accumulated energy in his body was reaching the bottleneck where he could accommodate them. So, he began to struggle to mobilize these energies that were about to overflow.

  Crack, his brain seems to have cracked, and the pain was not something any ordinary people could withstand.

  Even though Zhang Mu had been tempered for such a long time, his brain region was swollen up and cracked. That sensation was not like an ordinary explosion, but Zhang Mu knew that this was his final step to break through, so he must endure no matter what.

  The poker-face expression on his face that did not change earlier was becoming scary gradually. But he could only grit his teeth quietly as the moment he loosened up, everything would be in vain, and he would be doomed eternally.

  Fortunately, Zhang Mu had the chance to train on his psychological aspect some time ago. First was Zero, the second was the Nightmare Worms, and finally the wave of energy from the dozens of soul crystals. He should be able to endure this breakthrough.

  After enduring the most ferocious wave, his entire being was relaxed as he could felt the psychic power gradually melt into the expanded brain area. Subsequently, feeling that his meridians were getting stronger after absorbing the energy that was stored, he sighed heavily in his heart. That was not easy.

  Now he could understand the pain that the Obsidian Beetle had gone through when it was advancing. He did not want to go through that for the second time unquestionably.

  When everything in his body was calmed down, Zhang Mu stood up abruptly and looked at both of his hand. Even though it looked as though there were no changes, but he felt an explosive power hidden inside.

  However, the changes in his body were not important to him. In fact, Zhang Mu wanted to know what kind of psychic ability did he gained during the advancement immediately.

  He began to mobilize an enormous psychic power stored in his brain area and release it outward.

  It was this?!

  Chapter 140: Psychic Barrier

  Surrounding Zhang Mu, was a barrier constructed by his psychic power. Although it was only one meter away, it was indeed a safety shield formed by his ability.

  It cannot be seen nor touched. Despite that, Zhang Mu did not feel the cold wind entering the range of his psychic barrier. In this area, he was able to control everything as he pleased. Subconsciously, he used his psychic power to control the Obsidian Beetle dagger that was placed on his body originally.

  Looking at the Obsidian Beetle dagger floating in front of his eye, Zhang Mu had mixed feelings. Compared to handling the dagger in his hand, it seems to be more nimble w
hen he controlled it with his psychic power.

  But when Zhang Mu tried to extend his psychic power further, he would be powerless. The moment the Obsidian Beetle dagger left the range of the psychic barrier, he would lose control of it, and it would fall heavily on the ground.

  Zhang Mu leaned down and picked up the Obsidian Beetle dagger. Holding it in his hand, he thought to himself, “It seems that I could only control roughly one meter around myself. Even though it was a little short, but at least within this range, practically I can manipulate how I want to. Seems like I need to prepare another weapon in case of emergency.”

  Zhang Mu was not the type of person that pursues something flashy. He would not display this power just because he had them. He was good at keeping things hidden because he knew that every piece of card that was not revealed would be the key to turn the tides around. If the psychological manipulation could be applied well, then it could be used as a surprise attack in a typical battle.

  Right now, he wanted to test out the durability of this psychological barrier. Since the Bloodvine Lotus was attached to his body, the psychic barrier would automatically exclude the Bloodvine Lotus as a target to intercept, allowing the vines to go in and out freely within the barrier.

  Then, that only left the Obsidian Beetle who was stuffing itself with foods now.

  Zhang Mu discovered that after he had advanced to the second rank, the telepathic distance with the Obsidian Beetle had increased considerably. He called out the Obsidian Beetle, “Little Black, have you finished eating? After you have finished eating, come here. I have a task for you.”

  The Obsidian Beetle replied reluctantly, “Wait for a while, I still have not finished eating. Even though the brain of these first-ranked mutated animals was not sharp, as they dare to challenge my existence, but they were still tasty. Let me eat for a while. You wait for me first.”

  Zhang Mu felt annoyed and hilarious at the same time. The attitude of Little Black was still the same no matter if it was first-rank or second-rank.

  Unable to suppress any longer, Zhang Mu immediately withdrew back the psychic barrier that was caging him. Since it would not come over, then Zhang Mu would go there to meet him personally.

  The Obsidian Beetle noticed that Zhang Mu was coming closer but ignored him. It was still selecting the most tender part of the mutated animal on the ground neither fast nor slow and cut a portion of it to savor the taste.

  Zhang Mu naturally had a way to deal with it. He chuckled while summoning the Bloodvine Lotus. Under Zhang Mu’s control, it swept clean the whole ground while the Obsidian Beetle was watching the entire scene stunned and speechless. The remaining corpses of the mutated animal were deteriorated in an instant.

  The Obsidian Beetle finally reacted. Fanning its wings, it fanned away those that were near the vines of the Bloodvine Lotus and stood firmly in front of the corpses to shield them.

  However, there was a big difference between the Obsidian Beetle’s and the Bloodvine Lotus’s efficiency. The Bloodvine Lotus solely absorbed the most important flesh and blood essence in their body, so it was exterminating them effectively. All of the vines were swelled up in general while the flesh and blood essence was stored inside the Bloodvine Lotus’s body. As for the problem of digestion, it was beginning gradually.

  The Obsidian Beetle rushed to the Bloodvine Lotus in a grimace, and it was swinging the claws on its forelimbs up and down. It looked as if it wanted to fight. However, it was ignored by the Bloodvine Lotus directly. After decomposing the energy stored inside the vines, it was continued to transport back towards the main body inside Zhang Mu’s left arm.

  “You’re using this to steal my food? And you still wanted my help? You human have no conscience. I was protecting you while you were advancing just now and you are doing this to me?”

  The Obsidian Beetle’s resentful voice sounded through their connection.

  Despite that, Zhang Mu stood there chuckling wickedly. He laughed to the point where he could sense that the Obsidian Beetle was indeed mad at him. He quickly restrained himself and apologized, “That is because I am truly anxious right. Furthermore, those that were better should be eaten by you now. Why bother to fight with the Bloodvine Lotus for the leftovers? What do you say?”

  The Obsidian Beetle snorted in its mind. It knew that Zhang Mu was fooling around. There was nothing left for it to eat, with only a pile of skin left over, so what can it do? It could only ask about the matter that Zhang Mu raised, “What kind of help do you need?”

  Zhang Mu’s eye lit up. Finally, they were back to the topic, “My second-ranked ability, I want you to test it out for me.”

  “Oh, what is it?” The Obsidian Beetle shook its head with interest. After hearing from Zhang Mu, it was also interested in the ability that he gained after the second-ranked advancement.

  “It is a psychic barrier.” Zhang Mu answered subconsciously, but it caused the Obsidian Beetle to laugh out loud. For a moment, it did not reply to Zhang Mu.

  “Psychic barrier? The one that the big white worm used to deal with me? You must know that dozens of them couldn’t even withstand my attacks. Didn’t you saw them yourself? Was it necessary for me to test it?”

  Although the words from the Obsidian Beetle sounded arrogant, they were indeed true. Even though there was mysterious willpower inside the Obsidian Beetle at that time, controlling its body and strengthen its ability, but the strength of a second-ranked Obsidian Beetle could be seen clearly from the battle earlier. Hence, they were not empty words.

  However, Zhang Mu was uncertain. Without a clear comparison, he would not know whether the power of the Obsidian Beetle could easily break through his psychic barrier.

  “Let’s give it a try. I could not feel it myself, and the Bloodvine Lotus have the same presence as mine. I can only count on you now.”

  Seeing the resolution in Zhang Mu’s eye, the Obsidian Beetle could only comply, “Well then, let me give it a go.”

  Zhang Mu nodded his head lightly and retreated ten meters away from the Obsidian Beetle. Invoking his powers, the psychic barrier circled him instantly, encasing him with one-meter range.

  Even though it could not see anything besides Zhang Mu, but the Obsidian Beetle and Zhang Mu were both second-ranked. Therefore, it noticed a difference in the air. Furthermore, they were linked by blood.

  However, it believed that Zhang Mu’s barrier and the Nightmare Worm’s had not much difference. Additionally, the Nightmare Worms could restrict its movement too, so that it had no way to increase its speed instantly. Now, it did not feel any pressure from Zhang Mu’s psychic power. It accelerated abruptly and simply dived towards Zhang Mu. However, it was slammed into a colorless and odorless barrier, that was one meter away from Zhang Mu. With a bang, it hit onto a glass casing.

  At the moment it collided with the barrier, the Obsidian Beetle’s mind was in turmoil. It raised the claws on its forelimb and slashed the barrier.

  This glass casing, it couldn't cut open?

  Chapter 141: Evenly Matched

  The claws that the Obsidian Beetle used to cut a swathe through the first-ranked mutated animal ate a huge loss unexpectedly when challenging Zhang Mu. It could not break in and the speed that it acquired earlier, was also forced to zero.

  Compared to the Obsidian Beetle’s confusion and resentment, Zhang Mu’s heart was blooming with excitement.

  He never thought that the psychic barrier would be so strong. However, it could not strike on its own accord and was made for defense purely. Even though that was the case, Zhang Mu was also satisfied because it was the area that he lacked the most. He never expected that his flaw had become his power by an odd coincidence.

  Now, not only did his psychological defense had improved, but his psychic ability was strong enough to block the attacks easily from the Obsidian Beetle, who was a second-ranked mutated animal. Furthermore, Zhang Mu felt that this ability should not be used merely for defenses. During a close-range battle, he could al
so strike a deadly blow to his opponent.

  Despite that, the Obsidian Beetle was unwilling to admit defeat. It felt that it had lost its face in front of Zhang Mu as it could not make a single scratch on his psychic barrier. It said to Zhang Mu telepathically, “Just now I was not ready and banged onto it aimlessly. One more time.”

  Zhang Mu did not mind at all. Just now the Obsidian Beetle did not break his psychic barrier, so it did not deplete much of his psychic power. From his angle, there was only a ripple produced on the barrier.

  Likewise, he wanted to know where was the limit of his psychic barrier too. Despite that, he was unsure if the Obsidian Beetle was able to do the job.

  After obtaining consent from Zhang Mu, the Obsidian Beetle retreated far away from Zhang Mu for about 20 meters.

  Zhang Mu squinted his eye to look at the Obsidian Beetle from a distance. He also started to prepare to meet the challenge and unleashed all of his psychic ability. Under the guidance from his power, it had scattered evenly to all parts of the barrier.

  Of course, he tried to concentrate his power on one area, but now it was extremely tough for him to do so. He could not change the barrier that was already formed. As a result, he could only drop the matter.

  He was acting quite greedy too. He recently advanced to the second-ranked and was already thinking of using his newly acquired ability skillfully. That was utterly a wishful thinking as the ability from each rank needs to be slowly mastered and improved by using it continuously.

  While Zhang Mu was thinking about this matter, the Obsidian Beetle had made its move. The wings at both sides were fanning up and down to conserve power, causing the dust underneath its hind legs to gather around its wings involuntarily.

  Zhang Mu could feel the changes in the air clearly at this moment too.

  It was the wind!

  The Obsidian Beetle was collecting its power from the wind. That’s right, it was a mutated animal with the wind-element. Zhang Mu never saw it utilized this element when it was first-ranked so it must be an ability acquired after progressing to the second-rank.